Announcements

Good evening everyone!  I hope you've had a great weekend.  A big thank you 
to those who came out to Little Nancy Creek Park yesterday to support the 
grand opening of the playground.  I really appreciate it.  
 
This coming Saturday, April 28th, our class will assist in the planting of a 
butterfly garden at the park.  Our assigned work time is 10:00-10:30 on that 
day.  This project represents the Kindergarten grade level's PTA Service In 
Action.  We are still in need of some hand trowels and garden hoses (with 
connectors).  If you have some that you could lend to the project, please let 
me know.  All items will be returned to you (just make sure you have them 
labeled).
 
Now, on to the work we will be doing this week...
 
Phonics:
Sound: oy/oi (Students will be taught that if they hear the "oy/oi" sound at 
the end of a word it is usually spelled "oy", and that if they hear 
the "oy/oi" sound at the beginnning or middle of a word, it is usually 
spelled "oi".  I Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but generally 
speaking this holds true.
 
Sight Words: no, so, there, their 
**We will focus on "no" and "so".  The other two words will merely be 
introduced.  I do NOT expect the students to spell "there" or "their" 
correctly.  
 
Language Arts Centers:
Students will engage in the following activities:  Guided Reading, stamping 
sight words, writing a story based on a magazine picture, Switchzoo animal 
memory (on computer), oi/oy word search, animal cam observation on the 
promethean board (science center), Connect Four with phonics cards, writing a 
letter to a classmate, browsing boxes (re-reading past guided reading books  
in order to build fluency), building sight words with bendaroos, and 
dictation on IPads.
 
Math:
Students will play a money exchange game with pennies, dimes, and dollars, 
create name collections for various numbers, use the function machine to 
change numbers, practice telling time using the hour and minute hands, and 
play Everyday Math games to reinforce previously taught skills.
 
Science/Social Studies:
We will continue our "Love Your Mother" unit.  Students will identify the 
parts of a plant, create a book that illustrates the life cycle of a plant, 
and sort plants based on observable characteristics.
 
Writing:
Our poetry unit will begin on Monday.  During this unit students will be 
encouraged to look at common objects as a poet might...in a "fresh, new 
way".  We will begin by studying simple, short poems by famous poets, and 
then emulate their style in our own poems.  Students will learn that poems 
have line breaks, and that not all poems rhyme.  Students will also be 
introduced to the concept of a "simile".
 
End Of Year Presentation:
If you haven't done so, please mark your calendars for Monday, May 21st, as 
that will be the day of our end of the year presentation.  It will begin at 
12:00, and last until 12:30.  You won't want to miss it!  An RSVP will be 
sent in your child's backpack soon.  

Technology Corner:
Attached you will find the student written portion of this newsletter.  Two 
students used the class IPads to write about their favorite IPad 
application.  
 
That's all for now!  Have a great evening!
Kenny